GUADALAJARA - The time has come for Chivas USA to kick off their participation in Mexico’s most elite youth tournament, Copa Chivas International Scotiabank. The Red-and-White will open up the tournament facing the Colombian National Team on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 a.m. (PT) at Verde Valle, the training facilities of host club Chivas Guadalajara.

The Red-and-White will inaugurate their participation in the Copa Chivas with a 4-3-3 record and with a third place in the Southwest Division standings of the 2013/14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Regular Season. In their most recent game, Chivas USA U18 Team earned a 3-2 victory over Pateadores.

The Red-and-White team, led by Head Coach Juan Sanchez, will be looking to transfer on the confidence they gained over the last weekend onto their first match of the Copa Chivas tournament, and build on from there.

“I think the win definitely gave us confidence, but more than anything, I think they’re excited to play in an international tournament,” Coach Sanchez said ahead of Tuesday’s game. “That experience might be new for a couple of players, but for guys like Caleb [Calvert], Marky [Delgado], [Juan] Espinoza, they’ve played in these types of games and I think that’s going to transfer in a sense that it gives confidence to the team. We’re excited to play tomorrow.”

Away games and tours have proven right for the Red-and-White youth team. Just last December, the squad travelled to Florida where they participated of the 2013 USSDA Winter Showcase, in which the U18s earned three strong victories, scoring more goals in three games than they had been able to during the Regular Season.

On the other hand, the Colombian U18 National Team comes from a successful campaign in the latest edition of the Bolivarian Games in Peru, earning the gold medal in the tournament; nine of the players that participated in said championship will also be featured in tomorrow’s National squad.

To follow this game between Chivas USA U18s and the Colombian National Team, and for other related news, tune into the club’s Twitter accounts: @ChivasUSAYouth &@cdchivasusa.